Observation Date
1/30/2014
Observer Name
Kikkert
Location Name or Route
White Pine
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Winds were light with only intermittent snow flurries.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

About 10 inches new in the mid and upper elevations. Was expecting denser snow at the bottom from early in the storm, but was pretty light throughout and right side up. Rain crust about 5 inches down showed up below about 8,500 feet, but was light and not noticeable skiing. There was a surprising lack of wind effect in areas we traveled, with some minor drifting along exposed ridges only. That said, skied between 9,000 and 10,000 feet and avoided the upper elevation wind exposed terrain where there certainly would have been more wind effect.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
In most areas below 10,000 feet the snow was mostly not wind effected and had not formed a cohesive slab. Also, wasn't quite enough weight for activity on deeper faceted layers. However, the areas below 10,000 feet are also some of the weakest, and in most places the new snow sits on a thin set of rime crusts with facets in between them, and super weak fist facets below the crusts.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Problem #1 Comments

See above, and photo below. Mid elevation wind exposed slopes were suspect.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Problem #2 Comments

Sluffing was common in the new light density snow on steeper slopes, but were not moving too fast or far.

Comments

Photo below shows what I would consider to be suspect and hazardous terrain with the current setup. There was a bit of wind effect, with denser wind blown snow over super weak facets capped by rime crust/facet sandwiches. Although the slab did not appear very sensitive with the little prodding I gave it, and was not very widely distributed or connected, any ride through the trees would make for a bad day. Safer conditions out of wind affected terrain where sluffing was the main issue as the snow was not dense enough to form much of a slab. Overall moderate with considerable in wind loaded terrain.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate